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“Reduced violence allows our peacekeepers to do more of the things we should be doing,” UNIFILE said spokesperson Kandice Ardiel in a press release on Thursday.
That UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)its mandate is to enforce Security Council Resolution 1701 – which set conditions for ending fighting between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006 – by monitoring hostilities, supporting Lebanese armed forces against Hezbollah militants, ensuring humanitarian access and securing Lebanon’s borders along the Blue Line of separation from Israel.
Broken peace
The 2006 resolution aimed to create lasting peace between Israel and Hezbollah and disarm Hezbollah. Since October 8, 2023, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has accused both parties for violating the resolution.
Israel and the Lebanese government in Beirut have been engaged in peace talks since June. UNIFIL has recorded dozens of projectiles over the past few days, which still shows a decrease in hostilities.
Meanwhile, as many families returned to their homes in southern Lebanon to find their villages destroyed, UNIFIL peacekeeping forces have been working to facilitate humanitarian assistance by ensuring the safe passage of aid convoys and helping to restore essential services such as health and water services.
“As people begin to return to their villages, there is still much work to be done,” said Mrs. Ardiel.
Latest work in the field
In recent weeks, UNIFIL has provided medical equipment and emergency room supplies to Tibnin Government Hospital, strengthening critical healthcare infrastructure.
UNIFIL peacekeepers have facilitated the movement of civilian workers, technical teams, humanitarian convoys, and mobile medical clinics carrying out repairs and services related to water networks, electricity systems, telecommunications infrastructure, and health service delivery.
Through these efforts, UNIFIL has helped repair and maintain water infrastructure in dozens of towns and villages in southern Lebanon in the last few weeks.
Dealing with unexploded ordnance
Another way UNIFIL protects civilians is by disarming unexploded ordnance that now litters southern Lebanon and threatens local communities.
Since the most recent escalation in March when the US and Israel began bombing Iran and Hezbollah joined the fight to support Tehran, the UNIFIL peacekeeping force has neutralized dozens unexploded ordnance, improvised explosive devices, and downed drones.
On Wednesday, the Lebanese Armed Forces managed to neutralize some of the weaponry recovered by the UNIFIL peacekeeping force, according to UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.
“The danger of explosions remains one of the most serious challenges facing returning communities,” wrote UNIFIL in its press release.
UNIFIL continues to urge all parties to comply with Resolution 1701: “Peacekeepers continue to work alongside local authorities and communities to support recovery, reduce risks and contribute to long-term stability in southern Lebanon,” the mission said.
